46 C.F.R. §§ 76.27-5–76.27-35

Detectors, manual alarm stations, control panels, cabinets, alarms, and other notifying devices must be of approved types.

The fire detection and alarm system must be capable of immediate operation at all times that the vessel is in service.

The fire detection and alarm system must control and monitor input signals for all connected detectors and manual pull stations or call points.

The fire detection and alarm system must provide fire or fault output signals to the pilothouse or fire control station.

The fire detection and alarm system must notify crew and passengers of a fire when appropriate.

The fire detection and alarm system must be so arranged and installed that the presence of a fire in any of the protected spaces will be automatically registered visibly and audibly in the pilothouse or fire control station. The visible notice must indicate the zone in which the alarm originated. On vessels of more than 150 feet (45.72 meters) in length, there must also be an audible alarm in the engine room.

Means to manually acknowledge all alarm and fault signals must be provided at the control panel. The audible alarm on the control panel may be manually silenced. The control panel must clearly distinguish between normal, alarm, acknowledged alarm, fault, and silence conditions.

The activation of any detector or manual pull station must cause an audible and visual fire detection alarm signal at the control panel. If the alarm signal has not been acknowledged within 2 minutes, an audible fire alarm must be automatically sounded throughout the crew accommodations and service spaces, control stations, and manned machinery spaces.

A fire detection and alarm system must automatically reset to a normal operating condition after alarm and fault situations are cleared.

Detectors in certain spaces, such as workshops during hot work and ro-ro spaces during on- and off-loading, may be disabled. The system must be restored automatically to normal surveillance after a predetermined time. Spaces must be manned when any detectors are disabled. Detectors in all other spaces must remain operational.

In fire detection and alarm systems with addressable detectors and manual pull stations, every fault (such as an open circuit, short circuit, or ground fault) must be monitored and must not prevent the continued individual identification of the remaining detectors and manual pull stations.

In fire detection and alarm systems with addressable detectors and manual alarm stations, the initiation of the first fire detector and resulting alarm must not prevent any other detector from responding.

Fire detection and alarm systems without addressable detectors and manual alarm stations must identify the zone that contains the activated detector or station upon activation of a detector or manual pull station.

Fire detection and alarm systems may output signals to other fire safety systems including, but not limited to, paging systems, fire alarm or public address systems, fan stops, fire doors, fire dampers, sprinkler systems, smoke extraction systems, low-location lighting systems, fixed local application fire extinguishing systems, and closed-circuit television systems.

Fire detection and alarm systems may accept signals from other safety systems. For example, a signal initiated from actuation of an automatic sprinkler valve may be sent to a fire detection and alarm system.

The fire detection and alarm system may be connected to a decision management system provided that—

Detectors must be responsive to heat, smoke, or other products of combustion, flame, or any combination of these factors. Detectors responsive to other indicators of incipient fires may be used if approved.

Detectors must be capable of being triggered or tested and restored to service without the replacement of any component.

Heat detectors must be rated not lower than 130 °F (54 °C) and not higher than 172 °F (78 °C). The operating temperature of heat detectors located in spaces of high normal ambient temperatures may be up to 260 °F (130 °C). The operating temperatures of heat detectors in saunas may be up to 284 °F (140 °C).

Fire detectors fitted in passenger cabins must also emit, or cause to be emitted, an audible alarm within the cabin when activated.

The required sensitivity and other performance criteria of detectors must be as set forth in 46 CFR 161.002.

Audible alarms must generate sound pressure levels as set forth in 46 CFR 161.002 and must:

Visual alarms must generate light of an intensity and period as set forth in 46 CFR 161.002.

All audible and visual alarms must be audible and visible throughout the spaces they are intended to alert.

The power supply and emergency power supply for all fire detection and alarm systems must be in accordance with 46 CFR chapter I, subchapter J (Electrical Engineering). At the end of the required period for which the fire detection and alarm system must remain operable under emergency power, the system must remain capable of operating all audible and visual fire alarm signals for an additional period of 30 minutes.

All wiring and electrical circuits and equipment must be in accordance with 46 CFR chapter I, subchapter J (Electrical Engineering).

All fire detection and alarm systems must monitor power supplies and circuits necessary for the operation of the system during loss of power and fault conditions.

The fire detection system must be divided into separate zones to restrict the area covered by any particular alarm signal.

The fire detection zone must not include spaces in more than one main vertical zone, except on cabin balconies.

The fire detection zone must not include spaces on more than one deck, except—

Any fire detection zone with non-addressable detectors and manual pull stations must not contain more than 25 protected rooms or spaces.

Detectors must be located in all spaces except those having little or no fire risk such as void spaces with no stowage of combustibles, private bathrooms, public toilets, fire extinguishing medium storage rooms, deck spaces, and enclosed promenades that are naturally ventilated by permanent openings.

The detectors must be located on the overhead in the space protected at a minimum distance of 18 in (0.5 m) away from bulkheads, except in corridors, lockers, and stairways. Positions near beams and ventilation ducts, or other positions where patterns of air flow could adversely affect performance should be avoided. Where liable to physical damage, the detector must be suitably protected.

Detectors must be located in accordance with spacing requirements as tested and approved.

Detectors in stairways must be located at least at the top level of the stairs and at every second level beneath.

There must be at least one manual alarm station in each zone.

Manual alarm stations must be located in main passageways, stairway enclosures, public spaces, or similar locations where they will be readily available and easily seen in case of need.

A sufficient number of manual alarm stations must be employed to enable a person escaping from any space to find a manual alarm station on his or her normal escape route.

Cables that form part of a fire detection and alarm system must be arranged to avoid galleys and machinery and other high fire risk spaces except where it is necessary to provide for fire detection and alarms in such spaces or to connect to an appropriate power supply.

Clear information about the installation and operation of a fire detection and alarm system must be displayed on or adjacent to its control panels.

The audible alarms must be identified as required by § 78.47-13 of this subchapter.

The entire main vertical zone containing an atrium must be protected throughout with smoke detectors.